Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Everest Salmon’

ABSTRACT

A chrysanthemum plant named ‘Everest Salmon’ characterized by its medium sized blooms with salmon ray-florets and yellow-green disc florets.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is related to the following co-pending applications:

Application Ser. No. Filing Date Title 09/276,695 March 26, 1999 ‘Everest Pink’ 09/276,633 March 26, 1999 ‘Everest White’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

‘Everest Salmon’ is a product of a breeding and selection program that had the objective of finding color mutants of ‘Everest Pink’. The new plant of the present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of chrysanthemum plant that is a natural occuring sport of a parent chrysanthemum named ‘Everest Pink’ (Ser. No. 09/276,695). A comparison with parent chrysanthemum ‘Everest Pink’ is also made in this application. The new cultivar was discovered as a whole plant mutation in May 1996 by Rob Noodelijk in a controlled environment (greenhouse) in Rijsenhout, Holland. The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Everest Salmon’ was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in September 1996 in Rijsenhout, Holland.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum bearing medium sized blooms with salmon ray-florets and yellow-green disc florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention of a new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum is shown in the accompanying drawings, the color being as nearly true as possible with color photographs of this type.

FIG. 1 shows a plant of the cultivar in full bloom.

FIG. 2 shows the various stages of bloom of the new cultivar.

FIG. 3 shows the various stages of foliage of the new cultivar.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This new variety of chrysanthemum is of the botanical classification Dendranthema grandiflora. The observations and measurements were gathered from plants grown in a greenhouse in Rijsenhout, Holland in a photo-periodic controlled crop under conditions generally used in commercial practice. The photo-periodic response time in this crop was 48 days after an average of eight long days. This new variety produces medium sized blooms with salmon ray-florets and yellow-green disc-florets blooming on the plant for 5 weeks. This new variety of chrysanthemum has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics throughout successive propagations however the phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as light intensity and temperature. To show the phenotype as described ‘Everest Salmon’ can be planted without assimilation lightning between week 50 and week 40 of the next year under greenhouse conditions in Holland. With assimilation lightning (minimum level 2500 lux) it can be planted year round under greenhouse conditions in Holland.

From the cultivars known to inventor the most similar existing cultivars in comparison to ‘Everest Salmon’ are ‘Everest Pink’ and ‘Everest White’. When ‘Everest Pink’, ‘Everest Salmon’ and ‘Everest White’ are being compared the following differences and similarities are noticed: The difference of ‘Everest Pink’, ‘Everest Salmon’ and ‘Everest White’ is the color of the ray-florets for which characteristics ‘Everest Salmon’ has been selected out of ‘Everest Pink’. The color of the ray-florets of ‘Everest Salmon’ is salmon, the color of the ray-florets of ‘Everest Pink’ is pale pink, the color of the ray-florets of ‘Everest White’ is white. All other characteristics of ‘Everest Pink’ and ‘Everest Salmon’ are similar.

The following is a description of the plant and characteristics that distinguish ‘Everest Salmon’ as a new and distinct variety.

The color designations are taken from the plant itself. Accordingly, any discrepancies between the color designations and the colors depicted in the photographs are due to photographic tolerances.

Botanical Description of CULTIVAR ‘Everest Salmon’ ‘Everest Pink’ ‘Everest White’ Bud Size Small Cross-section ± 0.9 cm height ± 0.7 cm Outside Color Greyed-Orange 173 D Purple 75 D Yellow-Green 154 D Involucral bracts 2 rows, length 7 mm., width 2 mm. Involucral bracts Not present among disc-florets Involucral bracts Green 138 B color Bloom Type Daisy Height Flat Size Medium Fully Expanded 6.0-6.5 cm Borne (number of blooms per Approx. 5 blooms per branch branch) Length of lateral branch From top to bottom approx. 11.0 cm Lateral branch, attachment Medium Branching Good with 5 breaks after pinching Performance on the plant 5 weeks Seeds Not produced Fragrance Typical chrysanthemum Color Center of the flower (disc-florets) Immature Yellow-green 144 B mature Yellow-green 151 A Color of upper surface of the Orange-Red 35 D and yellow Purple 75 B White 155 A majority of the ray-florets 10 B at the base Color of the lower surface of the Greyed-Orange 165 D Purple 75 C White 155 A majority of the ray-florets Tonality from Distance A pot mum with salmon daisy flowers and a yellow-green disc Discoloration to color Red 36 C To Purple 75 C To White 155 D Ray florets Texture Upper and under side smooth Number 16-20 (1 row) Cross-section Concave Longitudinal axis of majority Reflexing Margin Entire Length of corolla tube Short Ray floret length 2.6-2.8 cm Ray floret width 0.8 cm Ratio length/width Medium Shape of tip Mamillate Disc florets Disc diameter Small (± 1.2 cm) Distribution of disc florets Numerous and clearly visible at all stages of flower head development Type Tubular Color Yellow-green 144 B Receptacle shape Conical raised Reproductive Organs Stamen (present in Yellow-green 144 A disc florets thin, 2 mm in length Pollen None Styles (present in both Yellow-green 144 A ray and disc thin Style Length 4 mm Stigmas Yellow-green 144 A Stigma Width 1 mm Ovaries Enclosed in calyx Plant Form A pot mum meant for indoor use Growth habit Upright Growth rate Moderate Height 18.0-21.0 cm Width Medium, 20.0-22.0 cm Stem Color Yellow-green 146 A Stem Strength Strong Stem Brittleness Present Stem Anthocyanin Coloration Present Flowering Response (photo- 48 days periodic controlled crop, no natural growing) Foliage Color Upper side yellow-green 147 A under side green 146 A Size Medium, length 6.5 cm, width 5.0 cm Quantity (number per lateral 6-7 branch) Shape Egg-shaped Texture upper side Fleshly Texture under side Smooth Ribs and veins upper side Ribs and veins well developed Ribs and veins under side Ribs and veins well developed Edge Crenated Shape of Base of Sinus Between Round Lateral Lobes Margin of Sinus Between Lateral Converging Lobes Shape of Base Cordate Apex Mucronate Age 56 days 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum plant as described and illustrated. 